Timepiece

ABSTRACT

A timepiece comprises three superimposed coaxial rotary discs, each disc comprising time graduations around an annular ring and an index mark spaced apart from the annular ring. The annular rings of the three discs are radially spaced from one another. A glass mounted over the discs is provided with three opaque sectors of rings, each concealing from view a part of the graduations of one disc whilst other parts of the graduations are visible through transparent sectors on the glass to give a time indication. The index marks are permanently visible through annular transparent parts of the glass to provide a double reading of the time.

United States Patent Calame s4 TIMEPIECE [72] Inventor: Pierre Calame, Le Locle, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Zodiac S.A., Le Locle, Switzerland [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1971 [21] App'l. No: 111,502

[ 51 3,653,202 1 Apr. 4, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal AttarneyRobert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato [57] ABSTRACT A timepiece comprises three superimposed coaxial rotary discs, each disc comprising time graduations around an annular ring and an index mark spaced apart from the annular ring. The annular rings of the three discs are radially spaced from one another. A glass mounted over the discs is provided with three opaque sectors of rings, each concealing from view a part of the graduations of one disc whilst other parts of the graduations are visible through transparent sectors on the glass to give a time indication. The index marks are permanently visible through annular transparent parts of the glass to provide a double reading of the time.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED R 41912 SHEET 1 [IF 2 l//////////////A l YI//////1 TIMEPIECE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Known watches comprising time indicator members, other than the usual hands, such as transparent discs bearing indexes, cannot in general be easily read.

The present invention aims to remedy this drawback by providing a timepiece in which transparent discs provide a double time indication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided, in a timepiece, the improvement comprising at least two superimposed coaxial rotary discs, each disc comprising graduations around an annular ring and at least one index mark spaced apart from the annular ring, the annular ring of each disc being radially spaced apart from the annular ring of each other disc, and a glass mounted over the rotary discs, said glass being provided with at least two opaque sectors of annular rings, each opaque sector concealing from view a part of the graduations of one disc, while other parts of the graduations of the discs are visible through transparent sectors on the glass, the index marks being permanently visible through annular transparent parts of the glass.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a timepiece dial taken along line l-I of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 to illustrate how reading of the time is carried out, in a particular position.

Superimposed transparent discs 1, 2 and 3, for example in a transparent plastics material, are arranged concentrically to one another, and centrally over the dial 4 of a watch. The discs 1, 2 3 are mounted on pipes, not shown, driven in the same manner as for a conventional watch with hours, minutes and seconds hands by a movement (not shown). Graduations 5, 6 and 7 are engraved on or applied to the discs 1, 2 3 by serigraphie" to show the hours (1 to 12), minutes (1 to 60) and seconds (1 to 60). These graduations are disposed on annular sections of each disc, in such a way that they do not overlap, so that an observer can see the three concentric graduations from above the watch, and the discs therefore form time indicator members.

The graduations are preferably chosen so as to clearly stand out against the background of the dial 4. The part of each disc outside the graduated annular sections can be opaque, as illustrated, in which case it forms the background for the graduations of the disc immediately above.

In each of the three discs 1, 2, 3 and index 15, 16, 17, respectively is engraved or applied by serigraphie below a given graduation, in such a way that when the three discs are superimposed, the three graduations and the three indexes appear separately; for example, the indexes are provided below the graduation 12" for the hours; and 60" for the minutes and seconds.

The watch glass 8 comprises three opaque rings and transparent rings. The concentric opaque rings 9, 10, ll partly conceal the three graduations 5, 6, and 7 of the transparent discs 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Each opaque ring has a transparent sector 12, 13 and 14 respectively, provided with a guide mark 18 in the upper central part, for example, and in front of which a time indicating number will be displayed.

The outer two sectors 13, 14 can each show at least three numbers, and the three sectors are provided in line with one another along a certain radial direction. The inner sector 12, for the hours, is long enough to show at least two adjacent hour graduations.

The non-opaque parts of glass 8 also form concentric rings through which the three indexes 15, 16 and l7 of the three discs 2 3 remain visible, while the graduations are only visible through the sectors 12, 13, 14.

The watch shown on FIG. 1 and 2 has the indexes in a special position with the indexes 15, l6, 17 in line, i.e., in the exactly 12 oclock position. The time indicator members are shown in one particular position in FIG. 3. The guide marks 18 indicate the exact time in hours, minutes and seconds in numbers on the graduations, while the indexes 15, 16 and 17 enable anapproximate reading of the time in the same way as with conventional hands. In order to facilitate this latter reading, glass 8 can be provided with hour graduations or signs, guide marks or the like, on the external ring 19, as shown, or on the opaque rings 9, l0 and /or 11.

The reader can thus rapidly read the time by means of an index used in the same manner as a conventional hand, and more accurately by the indication of numbers appearing in the sectors by means of guide marks 18.

Preferably, the color of the time graduations and indexes is chosen to contrast with the background of the dial 4.

What is claimed is:

1. In a timepiece, the improvement comprising at least two superimposed coaxial rotary discs, each disc comprising graduations around an annular ring and at least one index mark spaced apart from the annular ring, the annular ring of each disc being radially spaced apart from the annular ring of each other disc, and a glass mounted over the rotary discs, said glass being provided with at least two opaque sectors of annular rings, each opaque sector concealing from view a part of the graduations of one disc, while other parts of the graduations of the discs are visible through transparent sectors on the glass, said glass having predetermined indicia selectively disposed thereon, the index marks being permanently visible through annular transparent parts of the glass and cooperating with said indicia on said glass.

2. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1, in which the said transparent sectors of the glass are each large enough to display a plurality of graduations of a disc, each of said transparent sectors being provided with an indicator mark.

3. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1, in which said indicia on the glass are time indications. 

1. In a timepiece, the improvement comprising at least two superimposed coaxial rotary discs, each disc comprising graduations around an annular ring and at least one index mark spaced apart from the annular ring, the annular ring of each disc being radially spaced apart from the annular ring of each other disc, and a glass mounted over the rotary discs, said glass being provided with at least two opaque sectors of annular rings, each opaque sector concealing from view a part of the graduations of one disc, while other parts of the graduations of the discs are visible through transparent sectors on the glass, said glass having predetermined indicia selectively disposed thereon, the index marks being permanently visible through annular transparent parts of the glass and cooperating with said indicia on said glass.
 2. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1, in which the said transparent sectors of the glass are each large enough to display a plurality of graduations of a disc, each of said transparent sectors being provided with an indicator mark.
 3. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1, in which said indicia on the glass are time indications. 